Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Finish Fourth At MAC Championships
2/9/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Nov. 1, 1999
The Team--The Central Michigan University women's cross country team has the week off before competing at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional championships on Nov. 13 at Indiana State University. The Chippewas are coming off a fourth-place finish at the MAC championships on Oct. 30 at Kent.
The Coaching Staff--The CMU women's cross country program is headed up by head coach Kathleen Raske Sparrey and assistant coach Karen Lutzke. Raske Sparrey led the Chippewas to a fifth-place finish at the 1999 indoor Mid-American Conference track and field championships and a fourth-place finish at the MAC outdoor finals while Lutzke was the head women's cross country coach and assistant track and field coach at Michigan State (1990-98) and the head women's and men's cross country and women's track and field coach at Olivet (1998-99).
Last Weekend--The Chippewas finished fourth at the MAC championships hosted by Kent last Saturday. Akron won the crown with 78 points and was followed by Miami (96), Kent (100), CMU (111), Western Michigan (131), Ohio (147), Eastern Michigan (158), Toledo (186), Ball State (193), Bowling Green (195), Buffalo (280), Marshall (345) and Northern Illinois (367).
Leading the Chippewas was Andrea Pullen (Grandville/Sr.) who earned second-team All-MAC honors after finishing ninth in a time of 17:44. Other Chippewa finishers were: Stefanie Burklow (Clarkston/Jr.) in 14th (17:49), Brook Creed (Walkerville/So.) 18th (18:08), Tami Lauritzen (Wyoming/Jr.) 28th (18:24), Laura Harger (Dimondale/Sr.) 42nd (18:39), Patty Langworthy (Holland/So.) 44th (18:41), Sarah Peterson (St. Louis/Fr.) 54th (18:54) and Kristin Podein (Belmont/Fr.) 76th (19:25).
Assistant Coach Karen Lutzke On The MAC Race--"Our goal going into the season was to finish in the top five. We were excited that we did that. Our one through four runners had strong races. All had close to a personal best. This is a stepping stone for us. We are going to use this as the beginning of establishing a strong program at CMU."
Lutzke On The Great Lakes Regional--"We are going to regroup and see if we can knock off some of the top teams in our region. We could finish as high as eighth if we get five strong performances."
Pullen All-MAC--Senior Andrea Pullen earned second-team All-MAC honors for the first time in her career. Pullen led the Chippewas with a ninth-place finish (17:44). She is the first Central runner to earn All-MAC honors since Mari Chandler in 1997.
Strong Finish--Central's fourth-place finish at the MAC championships matches its best finish since taking fourth in 1997. CMU won its only MAC title in 1989.
Turn Around--The Chippewas improved from ninth place in last year's MAC championships to fourth in 1999.
